"Doctor?" she said, stepping from her alcove and looking around.  "What are you doing here?"

He didn't take his eyes from her.  "I wanted to see you."  He touched her arm and she shivered.

"Your visit is...appreciated," she said, gently taking his hand from her arm.  It made her skin feel warm.

"Just appreciated?" he asked, stepping closer.  "Not welcomed?  Not desired?"  His brown eyes were penetrating.

She nodded.  "Your visit is...desired as well."  She swallowed as he touched her arm again.  And then he kissed her.  She'd never felt so strange in all her life.  It was a mixture of shock and pleasure and uncertainty.  She pulled away.  "Please, state your intentions," she said breathlessly.

He smiled.  "Only to love you."  He moved to her again, taking her in his arms and this time she didn't pull away.

"Regeneration complete," the computer announced dryly.  Seven immediately opened her eyes and stepped from the alcove.  Her heart was pounding.  She took a breath, remembering the intense dream she'd just awakened from.  She's had never had a dream like this before...never so sweet and soft.  She looked in the mirror at her reflection and touched her cheek where her dream Doctor had touched her.  It made her shiver.  Closing her eyes, she exhaled and decided to get ready.   After her morning preparations she left Cargo Bay 2 and proceeded to her first task.  Breakfast.  When she arrived Neelix came to her with his usual morning cheerfulness.

"Good morning, Seven," he said.  "Can I get you something to eat?"

Seven looked past him to the table of food.  She pointed to the nearest thing that looked like it wouldn't kill her and said, "That will do.  Thank you."

He smiled.  "All right, Seven," he said as he prepared a plate and laid it on a tray.  "Something to drink?"

Seven absently looked over the morning shift in sickbay and mumbled, "Water."  It was just as Neelix approached that she found what she was looking for.  A source of advice.  B'Elanna Torres sat alone not far.  "Thank you," Seven said, taking the tray.

"You're welcome," Neelix said.  "If there's anything else I can do for you don't hesitate to ask."

Seven looked at him briefly.  "Thank you."  She turned away again and took her tray to where B'Elanna sat.  "Lieutenant Torres, may I join you?"  She waited expectantly.

B'Elanna blinked and stared up at her.  "You want to sit here?" she asked, surprised.  "Something wrong with Voyager?"

Seven sighed.  "There is no problem with Voyager, however I have something I wish to discuss with you."

B'Elanna raised her eyebrow and looked at Seven a moment longer before moving her tray to accomodate the former drone's.  "Be my guest."

"Thank you," Seven said as she sat.  She stirred the contents of her plate, not knowing exactly what to say.

B'Elanna waited.  Finally, frustrated, she said, "You had something to discuss with me?"

Seven looked up and to B'Elanna's surprised looked at a loss for words.  "I have come to you for advice, Lieutenant.  Romantic advice."

B'Elanna fought off a smile.  "You want advice from me?  No offence, but we're not exactly best friends."

Seven pursed her lips.  "I realize that we have no always been friendly with one another, but I am in need of help with a situation.  If you would prefer I can go to someone else."

Running her finger around the rim of her cup, B'Elanna shrugged.  "No.  No.  I'll help you.  I guess.  So what's this situation?"

Seven swallowed a bite of her breakfast.  "I believe the Doctor has romantic feelings for me."

This time B'Elanna let her smile come through.  "What do you think about his feelings?"

Seven cocked her eyebrow.  "You don't seem surprised about it."

B'Elanna shook her head.  "Tom mentioned something about the Doctor maybe thinking in that way about you.  It was no big deal.  Are you going to answer my question?"

"Yes," Seven answered, not sure she liked the fact that Tom knew and failed to mention it to her.  Sometimes humans still confused her.  "I believe I wish to explore this relationship.  The problem is I don't know how to approach this with the Doctor."

B'Elanna leaned on her arms.  "What's the first thing that comes to mind?"

"My nature would suggest that I simply go to him, state the questions I have and the facts that I know and wait for his reply."  She looked around and B'Elanna could see a trace of that Borg innocence.  "However, I know that humans are not so straight forward.  The Doctor, while being at nature a straight forward person, is more human by nature than I.  I don't want to endanger the relationship I already have with him by coming on too strongly.  I want to make my approach something with human style."

B'Elanna chuckled.  "Human style.  Well, I can't fault you for that, though I think the Doc would be just fine if you went to him and told him what you thought and wanted."

Seven nodded reluctantly.  "But that is what he would expect from me.  I want him to see that I have grown and am not just a naive drone that does not possess knowledge of how to inact as a human would, much less knowledge of how feelings work."

B'Elanna nodded.  "I see what you mean.  Well, you need something that reflects your straightforwardness, and yet isn't so in your face."  She absently tapped her cheek as she leaned her head on her hand.  "You need to do something kinda cute.  Sort of endear yourself to him."

"What would you suggest?"  Seven looked down at her plate then back to B'Elanna.

"Hmm," B'Elanna said thoughtfully.  "Were you planning on going to Ensign Faircloth's birthday party tomorrow night?"

Seven shook her head.  "I had no planned on it, Lieutenant."

B'Elanna pursed her lips.  "Well, are you up to changing your plans?  I know Doc's going and I think it might be a perfect opportunity for you to warm up to him."

Seven looked at B'Elanna cautiously.  The last place she wanted to speak her heart was at a birthday party in front of everyone.  "I would not be opposed to chaning my plans for tomorroe evening.  What did you have in mind?"

B'Elanna smiled.  "Nothing big.  I just thought you could dress up kinda nice.  Maybe ask him to dance.  Make your intentions known."  She grinned at the former Borg, looking her over speculatively.  "I think I have a few ideas that will turn the Doc's head."

Suddenly Seven felt slightly uncomfortable.  Just what would B'Elanna suggest?  Well, B'Elanna did have experiance in this area.  Besides, she didn't have to do anything she felt too uncomfortable with.  She'd listen to B'Elanna's suggestion and think it through carefully.  "I will consider whatever you suggest."

"Okay," B'Elanna said, grinning.  "Meet me for dinner and then after we eat we'll replicate something for you to wear and try some different hair styles out."  Seven's blue eyes reflected er unease.  "Come on, Sev.  It'll be fun."

Seven nodded.  "Very well.  I will meet you for dinner tonight."

B'Elanna smiled and stood, petting Seven's shoulder.  "Great.  Seeya later."  And with that she left.  Seven took a breath and picked her tray up and returned it to Neelix.  Just what was she getting herself into?

After dinner Seven and B'Elanna went straight to Cargo Bay 2 after many protests from Tom Paris, who wanted to know what B'Elanna and Seven were up to.  B'Elanna firmly told him that it was none of his business and took Seven's wrist and lead her to the cargo bay.  The Doctor could not know a moment before he saw her that Seven was planning on dressing up for the party.  So Seven sat and waited while B'Elanna looked through Voyager's clothing files.  The silence was deafening as she sat there waiting and just when she thought B'Elanna would never talk, the silence was interrupted.  Seven jumped.  "I think I've got it narrowed down to three.  Of course you can choose something else if you don't like these, but I think they are very flattering for you."  Seven slid off her chair and stood behind B'Elanna.  The outfits she had chosen did seem to appeal to Seven's taste.  They weren't too flashy and served their purpose efficiently.  There was a silky green pants suit that had a black shirt with it, a light purple dress with a sheer, see-through midriff and long burgundy skirt and matching tank top.  "Of course the colors are workable.  What do you think?"

Seven gazed at the clothes.  "Your choices are pleasing," she answered.  "What would you suggest?"

B'Elanna looked Seven over.  "I think I like this one," she said, pointing.  "It's pretty and just daring enough and in the right color can be soft and sexy at the same time."

Seven nodded.  "I would not be uncomfortable with that choice."

B'Elanna smiled.  "Excellent.  Now we need to work with the color.  I think that a primary color like blue or black would be better than the way it is now.  The color just doesn't strike me as right for the look we're going for.  Do you like the color it is?"

Seven licked her lips.  "Lieutenant, I am not very well versed in all the subtle things that are appropriate.  I trust your discretion."

B'Elanna watched Seven take a breath and watch her with innocent trust.  They had never had a good relationship, but B'Elanna felt that this might be the start of a peace between them.  They could argue forever about engineering and social differences, but when it came to teaming up against men, B'Elanna could just about guarentee they would get along just fine.  As it stood the Doctor didn't stand a chance against Seven.  B'Elanna grinned.  All the subtle things Seven could do to get the Doctor turned over in B'Elanna's mind.  They had serious planning to do.  "Thanks, Seven," she said, meaning it.  She extended her hand and Seven grasped it uncertainly.  "Well," B'Elanna said after giving her hand a squeeze, "Let's try some things with your hair and talk about what you need to do to get the Doctor after you."

Seven nodded uncertainly, caught off guard by B'Elanna's gesture of friendship.  "Right," she said, turning back to the screen.

B'Elanna grinned and undid Seven's twist.  "I've got a few ideas," she assured, grasping her blonde hair and pulling it up.

"All right," Seven said, trusting everything to the Klingon.  She had a good feeling that everything was going to be ok.

The night of the party arrived and Seven stood nervously in the cargo bay, checking and re-checking her appearance in the mirror.  It was almost time for her to go to the party in the mess hall.  Blinking, she went through all B'Elanna had suggested and if need be B'Elanna had assured Seven that she and Tom would be at the party.  Waiting for time to pass was more than slightly annoying today for some reason.  Seven looked at the children as they regenerated.  "Computer, time?" she said, pacing.

"The time is 19:54 and 15 seconds."

Seven exhaled and grabbed the gift B'Elanna had helped her pick out for Ensign Faircloth and headed out the door and down the corridor.  This was it.  After all the planning that she and B'Elanna had done it was time to test it out and see if she could win the Doctor.  It made her both excitied and nervous.  She imagined his face when he saw her in her pretty dress, his eyes when she asked him to dance.  She barely noticed the smile on her lips as she approached the mess hall.  Taking a breath, she entered.  There was low music playing and crew members talking, laughing and dancing.  Seven searched the crowd for the Doctor.  "Seven," said Captain Janeway.  "You look very beautiful."

Seven turned to her and smiled.  "Thank you.  I enlisted Lieutenant Torres to help me choose it.  Have you seen her?"

Janeway nodded.  "She and Tom are off over there," she said, pointing.

"Thank you," Seven said, smiling politely and stepping away from Janeway.  Looking deeper into the crowd she spotted B'Elanna, Tom and Harry.  "Lieutenant Torres.  Ensigns Paris and Kim," she said in greeting.  She set her gift down on the gift table beside the group.

"Wow, Sev," Tom said, looking her over.  "You look great.  I might have to ask for a dance."

Seven blushed and said, "Thank you, Ensign."  She peered at Harry who was staring, speechless.  This made her blush even more.  She heard B'Elanna giggle and looked up, not eager to discuss her attire.  "Have you seen the Doctor?" she asked.

B'Elanna shook her head.  "No, but I'm sure he'll be along."

Tom shook his head.  "No.  Doc said he wasn't gonna make it.  He had some things to take care of.  That's why I brought that extra package."

B'Elanna widened her eyes and looked at Seven.  "I'm sorry," she said quietly, concerned that Seven would be hurt.

Seven blinked back what B'Elanna thought looked like tears and said, "No matter.  If you will excuse me."  She sighed, hearing Tom say, "What?  What did I say?" as she walked away and found a secluded table to sit at.  She couldn't leave now.  Then they would know why she came.  So she would endure the remainder of the party, no matter how long it took.  Besides, she didn't feel like going back to the cargo bay.  She just wanted to sit here and imagine what might have happened.  She hadn't thought of her smile as she entered the mess hall, but she was sure aware of her lips quivering now.

Seven smiled absently as she watched him work.  "What are you grinning at?" he asked, poking her side.

Seven pushed his hand away and leaned on the counter.  "I was remembering that night I went to Ensign Faircloth's birthday and you weren't there."

The Doctor looked absently ahead, touching her hand that was on his arm.  "Oh yeah.  I'm sorry I didn't show up."

Seven laughed.  "It wasn't your fault."

He smiled and pet her hand.  "I know, but you were disappointed.  I hate that."  He bit his lip.  "You know, I have a few memories about that night myself."

Seven bumped him with her hip.  "Oh yeah?  What memories?"

He smiled.  "How beautiful you were."  He touched her hair gently.

She leaned back against the counter and smiled.  "Care to share your point of view with me?"

The Doctor nodded.  "All right," he said softly.  "After the party..."

"What are you doing?" B'Elanna asked as Tom pulled away from her arm.

He took a breath.  "I got something to do."

B'Elanna placed her hands on her hips.  "What would that be?"

He spread his arms.  "Gotta go see the Doc."

She sighed.  "I think you should just leave it alone, Tom."

He shook his head.  "She's all alone in there and doesn't look like she's gonna be moving any time soon.  No match-maker games, B'Elanna.  She's really upset.  He just needs to be told."

B'Elanna pursed her lips, but nodded.  "You're right.  See you later?"

He grinned boyishly.  "Of course."

My God, she looks beautiful, he thought as he silently entered the dim room.  He stopped half-way across the room to watch her star gaze.  She was sitting there, all alone in her beautiful new dress that he had missed out on.  It was white and to her knees with a see-through midriff and no sleeves.  Her hair down and held back with a single gold clasp.  He wanted to talk to her, but for a moment he could only stand there, breath-taken.  Even past the outside beauty, he could see the inner beauty.  She was showing the true Seven, the emotional Seven.  He could see the spirit of Seven in just the way she was sitting and in her eyes as she watched the stars.  That was the most beautiful of all.  Walking softly, he moved unnoticed behind her and he reach out to touch her shoulder.  She jumped and turned to see him.  "Seven," he whispered.  She blinked and opened her mouth, but he placed his fingers on her lips.  "Shh.  May I have this dance?" he asked softly.

She didn't say a word, but simply nodded and stood, wrapping her arms around him as he began to dance soft and slow.  "Computer," he said in that soft tone.  "Something light."  Just as he said that the computer raised the dimmed lights.  He could feel Seven laughing and had to take a breath.  He looked down. "Oops?" he said, grinning.  She smiled and hugged into him.  "Computer, please dim the lights and play some soft music."  The computer complied and the soft mood was back in place as they continued their dance.  Words weren't needed.  They both knew everything that needed to be said.  The Doctor closed his eyes and held her a little tighter, windering if she knew how long he had wanted this.  Thankful that she knew now.

The Doctor smiled as he watched the sleeping woman in his arms.  He didn't know exactly when she'd fallen asleep, but he treasured these moments that he got to watch her beauiful face in repose.  He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a biobed where he laid her.  She moaned softly in her sleep and he stood there, waiting for her to settle.  She shifted a few times and finally found a position that she felt comfortable in and promptly fell back asleep.  He was tempted to reach out and touch her, just run his hand along her arm, but he didn't want to disturb her, so he contented himself to just standing there to watch her.  He was rewarded when she smiled softly in her sleep.  "Oh, Seven," he breathed, touching her hair.  "I wonder what you're dreaming tonight."

He was startled when she laughed and opened her eyes.  "Don't you know, Doctor?  I'm still dreaming of you."

The Doctor smiled and bent down to kiss her gently.  He'd never thought it possible.  Never dreamed he'd ever feel this deeply.  It was times like this when he totally forgot he was a hologram.  In fact, since Seven had come into his life he'd all but ceased thinking of himself that way at all.  He pulled from her lips and kissed at the side of her lips.  "And I you."